EDITOR Linda Koch
ARTWORK & DESIGN Emily Galvin
CONTRIBUTORS Annaleigh Koch Tamsyn Wrann Christopher Wheatley Matthew Wheatley Betty Pamper Nicky Rockets Kurtryan Koch Amanda Attwood Dani Coles Theresa Tenwick-Ford Lily Ashford Jennifer Lakelin Mark Henderson Oliver WIlson
0845 872 1473 www.bgpmagazine.co.uk
www.ukplussizeevents.com DISCLAIMER: All text and layout is the copyright of UK Plus Size Events. Nothing in this magazine may be reproduced in whole or part without the written permission of the publisher. All copyrights are recognised and used specifically for the purpose of criticism and review. Although the magazine has endeavoured to ensure all information is correct at the time of going to print, prices and availablilty may change. This magazine is fully independant and not affiliated in any way with any companies
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British Plus Size Awards 2014 Cover girl: Emma Haslam
Meet our Issue 8 cover girl, Emma Haslam
Vocalist and musician, Rosie O’Sullivan WIN a photoshoot makeover for two Let’s go for a swim The top plus size beachwear trends
Successful, confident and plus size Three inspiring stories from our swimwear models
Betty Pamper’s Guide to the perfect picnic Curvy Princess winner - Cameo Get the look Five fashion forward trends you can create at home
WIN a pair of Jileon’s wide-calf wellies Make a statement
A quick guide to our favourite statement necklaces
80 82 89 92
How to: Highlight and contour Afternoon tea with a twist Real life stories - ‘I lost my daughter to SADS’ For the love of bees 10 facts you didn’t know about bees
EDITOR’S LETTER Welcome to issue 8 of BGP Magazine, we had so much fun putting it together, with some amazing photoshoots. We loved meeting our cover girl Emma Haslam with her gorgeous husband John, what a lovely looking couple! We were also privileged to a private audience with the beautiful Rosie O’Sullivan, in the middle of our shoot she broke into song on the piano, everyone was mesmerised! Meet our beautiful swimwear models, Bishamber, Chiara and Eva, and read their inspiring stories. Why not enter one of our competitions, to bag yourself a pair of wide leg wellies and also a fabulous makeover shoot for yourself and friend with overnight hotel stay in sunny Bournemouth in Dorset. A story close to my heart read my friend Theresa’s heartbreaking story of how she lost her daughter at 22 to SADS, which is also our chosen charity for this year’s British Plus size Awards.
Linda Koch x
BRITISH PLUS SIZE AWARDS 2014
It’s that time of year again! The British Plus Size Awards are back for the second year, to celebrate and reward brands and personalities within the plus size industry.
A
fter the roaring success of last year, the British Plus Size Awards are being held as a completely separate event, on Saturday 22nd November, at the Radisson Blu Portman Hotel in central London. The show will be presented by one of last year’s award winners, Gemma Collins and the loveable Jeff Brazier. Gemma Collins is best known for appearing on The Only Way Is Essex, but has since gone on to create her own fashion label, which saw her win an award for Best Fashion Designer, and star on the diving reality show Splash. Jeff Brazier originally appeared on the reality TV show Shipwrecked and has since gone on to appear in shows such as Dancing on Ice, Total Wipeout, The X Factor, I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here Now!, and he is also a regular on ITV’s This
Morning. The cheeky Essex boy is well loved by the nation and, together with Gemma, will provide a fabulous night of entertainment that you definitely will not want to miss. Very exciting! That’s not all that is new for 2014 - there are also some new award categories, including Best Bridal Range, Best New Blogger, Best Lingerie Range and Best Fashion Blogger. With nominations closing on 15th September, there is still plenty of time left to vote! You can also download a ‘Vote for Me’ or ‘Vote for Us’ button from the British Plus Size Award’s website, making it simple for your brand, blog or service to be nominated by your customers, followers and friends. There will also be an outstanding line up of plus size entertainment, including beautiful musician and vocalist Rosie O’Sullivan,
List of nomination categories Best Accessories Range Best Achievement Best Blogger Best Bridal Boutique Best Celebrity Female Best Celebrity Male Best Designer Best Entertainer Best Fashion Blog comedy genius and infamous impersonator Blobbie Williams, pole dancing extraordinaire Emma Haslam, and back by demand the stunning vocals of Bethany Churcher. This year, the BPSA have chosen to work with the welldeserving charity, CRY, which stands for Cardiac Risk in the Young. You can find out more about the charity CRY at www.c-r-y.org.uk. Tickets for this amazing event go on sale on 22nd August, with ticket prices costing ÂŁ130 per person, or ÂŁ1170 for a table of ten, buy nine tickets and get one free. You can purchase tickets from the website at www.britishplussizeawards.co.uk.
Best Fashion Event Best Footwear Range Best High Street Retailer Best Lingerie Blog Best Lingerie Brand Best Magazine Best Model Best New Blog Best Online Retailer Best Person in Business Best Supermarket Best Swimwear Range Most Supportive News Publication
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cover girl story
EMMA HASLAM PHOTOGRAPHY EMILY GALVIN HAIR TAMSYN WRANN MAKE UP ANNALEIGH KOCH
A
s a plus size woman, it takes a lot of courage and confidence to stand in front of one of the most famously critical men in the world, wearing nothing but a revealing lycra costume and a smile, however this is exactly what our cover girl Emma Haslam did. Emma took to the Britain’s Got Talent stage and performed an outstanding pole dancing routine, which not only impressed the judges but impressed the nation. Although she was knocked out in the semi-finals, Emma has had a huge career boost since appearing on the show, and has travelled the world promoting her pole-dancing workshops and showing that women can be plus size and athletic. BGP Magazine met Emma to discuss how she overcame the stigma attached to pole dancing, how she got into it and where we can expect to see her in the future. Hi Emma, it’s a pleasure to meet you! Thanks, it’s a pleasure to be here. I’ve had an amazing day. We’re glad you’ve enjoyed your photo shoot. Your life must have been a rollercoaster since appearing on Britain’s Got Talent - what has been the highlight of appearing on the show? The highlight for me has been gaining the confidence to actually appear on stage in front of millions of people. It was a very daunting
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experience, but I absolutely loved it. Nothing quite compares! We can imagine! Do you have any regrets at all? Not at all, it’s one of the best decisions I have ever made. How did you originally get into pole dancing? I actually taught myself. It’s always something that I had an interest in, so I bought a pole and began to practice. It’s a great way to keep fit and strong, and not as easy as it looks!
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“
JUST BE CONFIDENT DON’T WORRY ABOUT WHAT ANYONE THINKS.
”
There is stigma attached to pole dancing and some people often immediately assume that there is something naughty, sleazy even involved, how do you deal with this? I can understand why people do think that, but the truth of it is that pole dancing is a sport. It is a fantastic way to exercise, and you don’t need to be a size 10 to do it. To anyone who does assume the worst, I just explain that it’s a fitness and they should come and try it. It doesn’t bother me what people think, as their option soon changes when they see me perform or have a class. Obviously you are extremely fit to do what you do on the pole, so where can we advise our readers to go if they
want to get started in this exciting sport? I would suggest for them to find a friendly class near to them. There are lots of schools out there, and it’s getting more and more popular. It’s just finding the right one for them. There will be some places who cater more to slimmer women, but you’ll be surprised by how varied a lot of workshops are. Just be confident - don’t worry about what anyone thinks, life is too short! Have you seen an influx of people wanting to learn with you since your appearance on BGT? Yes, quite a lot! The response has been incredible. I have added an extra 4 classes during the week since the show, and I now teach 22 www.bgpmagazine.co.uk - 11
“
POLE DANCING IS A SPORT AND DESERVES TO BE RECOGNISED AS ONE
” classes a week. You mentioned about getting pole dancing into the Olympics, have there been any breakthroughs with this? It’s definitely something I am looking in to. Pole dancing is a sport - and deserves to be recognised as one. Can you do pole dancing while pregnant, or is it dangerous, or can it help prepare your body for labour? I wouldn’t advise to do it while pregnant, as you can injure yourself and also strain your stomach muscles, but I would continue to do it myself as I know my body and my limits, and would stop when needed. Are there any particular injuries or dangers to consider when pole dancing?
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Yes, like any sport, it can be dangerous. A common injury when first starting is pulling your stomach muscles, but it gets easier as your muscles get stronger. How does your family feel about your recent TV appearances? They are very supportive, and very proud of me. I’m lucky to have such a supportive family. Have you always been plus size? Not always! I’ve only been plus size since I had my daughter, however I had always been a size 12-14 before, so I’ve never been skinny. I love my curves and so does my husband! We think you were incredibly brave going on national TV and do your performance, please tell us about this and
how you felt on the day and afterwards? I was so nervous, but they kept me busy with interviews which helped. After, it was such a buzz, especially as all of my friends and family was there to congratulate me. What are your plans for the future? Just to carry on with my teaching school, and keep performing when I can’t imagine doing anything else. Tell us about your pole and silks dancing school? I run 22 classes a week pole, aerial silks, aerial hoop and trapeze. Everyone is welcome and it’s hard work, but also a lot of fun. I also run a competition.
www.ipaat.co.uk What can we expect to see from you in the future? I plan to continue my pole dancing classes, and there are lots of television performances on the horizon, in various countries! I’m also very excited to be performing at the British
Plus Size Awards later this year, and I will also be holding a workshop for the Miss Plus Size International 2015 finalists at boot camp. I can’t wait! That’s great. Well, we look forward to seeing you at the BPSA on 22nd November! Thanks, I’ll see you there.
CLICK HERE TO SEE EMMA’S PERFORMANCE ON YOUTUBE 16 - www.bgpmagazine.co.uk
GET YOUR COLLECTION ON THE CATWALK FROM JUST £795 The Curvy Convention will be the ultimate curvy shopping experience with an array of plus size brands, designer’s retailers and e- tailers there to meet all your fashion needs! Amongst the curvaceous goodness will be beauty treatments, advice, entertainment and leisure opportunities to ensure your Curvy Convention experience has everything to suit your needs. Curvy Convention will also play host the The Real British Plus size Fashion Show, featuring up and coming designers, well known brands and independent fashion houses taking their plus size ranges the catwalk throughout the Curvy Convention.
Tickets £5 - An event most definitely not to be missed!
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ROSIE O’SULLIVAN BGP Magazine meet the beautiful plus size vocalist and musician, Rosie O’Sullivan, to discuss life after Britain’s Got Talent, musicial inspirations and her up-coming album release.
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“
It would be very boring if we all looked the same and had the same personality.
�
How did you like being a model for BGP Magazine? It was very unexpected, but so much fun! I loved every minute of it such a great new experience. I would love to do it again! How old were you when you discovered you could sing and when did you first get involved in singing? I was 9 years old and my primary school head teacher put me forward for an audition to The National Youth Choir Of Great Britain. I was thrilled when I passed, and the story began. You are very talented at singing and being a musician, what are your hopes and dreams for the future? To be a professional performer at the highest level possible, and to engage audiences across the world. What would your chosen career be if you were not a performer? I would have loved to be a 20 - www.bgpmagazine.co.uk
Marine Biologist, but I’m very happy with what I do. How did you find your experience on Britain’s Got Talent? It was a fairground ride with highs and lows, but the highlight was that I achieved a personal ambition to appear in front of a huge audience and do what I love, which is performing. What were the BGT team like? They were lovely, very kind and helpful. Have you seen an influx of people wanting to book you for gigs since your appearance on BGT? Yes, there has been a lot of interest. It has also opened up other avenues. You mentioned that you are in university, what are you studying? I am studying a BA in Music Performance and Recording. It’s a really interesting subject, I love it. How does that fit in with your
performing? It doesn’t fit in very well, but my university have been very supportive and understanding. Is there anyone else in your family who is musical? Not really, the whole family enjoy music, and some of them can hold a tune. Do you play any other instruments, other than the piano? I do indeed! I play alto saxophone and clarinet. How does your family feel about your recent TV appearances? I think they are the proudest family to walk the planet. They have been so overwhelmed at the fantastic response. Have you always been plus size, and do you think that this has hindered your chances in becoming successful in certain areas? I have always been a big girl since a young age. It does hinder me sometimes, not that it should because everyone is beautiful in their own way. It www.bgpmagazine.co.uk - 21
looked the same and had the same personality. How do you deal with the media in an image conscious industry? My motto on life has always been. If people don’t like me for what I am and who I am, they are missing out. What are your plans for the future, and where would you like to see yourself in 5 years from now? Gosh, I hope to have released 2 albums and be singing around the world in front of many audiences. It’s my absolute dream to be a well known professional entertainer. Tell us about your upcoming album, when will it be released and where can we purchase it from? I am so excited, it will be finished in November with a release date of Spring 2015. The album genre is Pop with a Motown vibe, and hopefully will be available in all the leading retail outlets. What sort of music should we be looking forward to 22 - www.bgpmagazine.co.uk
hearing from in the future from Rosie O’Sullivan? My future albums will be influenced by soul and blues, because these are my favourite genres. However, I am always looking to add a twist and keep it fresh. Who would you say your musical influences are? Throughout my life I have been influenced by so many people, including Sam Cooke, Nina Simone, James Brown , Etta James, Alicia Keys and of course Whitney Houston. You are appearing at The British Plus Size Awards in November, how do you feel about this? I am honoured to be asked and I am very excited. Looking forward to meeting new faces and lovely people... bring it on! Brilliant. We can’t wait t see you there! You can see Rosie give an outstanding behindthe-scenes performance on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ BGPMagazine.
Use this space to reach your primary target audience. For more information, click here to request a BGP Magazine advertising rate card.
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PHOTOGRAPHY EMILY GALVIN HAIR TAMSYN WRANN MAKEUP ANNALEIGH
LET’S GO FO
With summer in full swing, there isn’t a better time to put on a swims the hottest swimwear suits available, provided by Your 26 - www.bgpmagazine.co.uk
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suit and hit the nearest pool or beach. BGP Magazine had uncovered rs Clothing, Swimdress Boutique and Gemma Collins. www.bgpmagazine.co.uk - 27
LEFT: Pink Swimsuit With Ruched Detail and Tummy Control, £22.00 (WAS:£35.00), Multi Tropical Print Sheer Kimono Shrug With Fringed Hem, £19.00 (WAS:£30.00) Both from Yours Clothing RIGHT: Aqua/Purple Print Swimsuit With Tummy Control, £19.00 (WAS:£30.00) From Yours Clothing
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Swimdress Boutique Starry Nights Tummy Control Swimdress, ÂŁ34.95 From Swimdress Boutique
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Pink Swimsuit With Ruched Detail, £22.00 (WAS:£35.00), Multi Tropical Print Sheer Kimono Shrug, £19.00 (WAS:£30.00) Both from Yours Clothing
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Black Twist Front Swimsuit With Tummy Control, £22.00 (WAS:£35.00), Black & Multi Floral Georgette Waterfall Front Longline Kimono, £25.00 from Yours Clothing
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Black/Stone Animal Print Swimsuit With Tummy Control, £22.00 (WAS:£35.00) From Yours Clothing
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Swimdress Boutique Pretty Purple & White Swimdress, £34.95 RRP £65.00 From Swimdress Boutique
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Antigua Kaftan Top, £55.00 £39.99, Havana Lime Green Kaftan, £55.00, both from Gemma Collins Official www.bgpmagazine.co.uk - 45
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MEET THE MODELS
REAL LIFE STORIES
EVA BELIEVER Eva, 34, is a plus size model and actress with an impressive line of work both behind her and ahead. Eva tells us how she became a plus size model, how she got her confidence and what you can do to improve yours.
I
am Eva Believer. My stage name became my religion, because nothing can be achieved without a strong belief! I have had a very successful career in my past. I have a Masters Degree in performing arts in Opera, Piano, Musical Theatre and Drama Theatre, also TV and Cinema. I have been working on the most popular TV comedy
sketch show as an actress for almost 7 years. I have appeared on almost every talk show and have been photographed and interviewed for many well known lifestyle and fashion magazines in Lithuania and here in the UK. I also had a classical band, well known in my country, based on singing opera mixed with modern
rhythms. I had the great honour or performing for the president of my country, different countries embassies, stadiums, TV shows and various stages, accompanied by an orchestra or piano. One of my main jobs, which is also my passion, is modelling. I am happy to say that I am successfully working as a size plus model in the UK for fittings,
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catwalk, fashion, photographic, promotional, and commercial, catalogue, I also pose for painters and I am always in search of something new and dramatic,...I absolutely adore the moment when the camera is capturing different modes like joy, sadness, pain or passion. I also think that professionalism is a necessity when working in the modelling industry!! I would never think in a hundred years that I ever would be working as a model. I came from a country where plus size modelling doesn’t exist, as there are no
plus size shops or brands that you could model for. I have always had a bubbly personality, and always wanted to be feminine and fashionable, so just imagine how hard it was to create any look from my fantasy, when all what I had in my cupboard was a pair of black boring trousers made by my local seamstress and few black, baggy jumpers I accidentally found in a second hand shop. Living a life full of constant criticism towards my body size and being overweight, coming from people and the media,( I used to weight 17 stone) I unconsciously
Photographer: Roger Barnes
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models. I love my job, and the new people that I meet and different challenging experiences I face , I also love travelling to the different locations! On closing, I would like to invite everybody to be porridge on the realistic but never daily basis was judging, because not something I could continue on that’s what I experienced and I a regular basis. think that’s where Since I moved to the UK, my life has changed completely! I accidently stumbled into the modelling industry. I never thought I was born to be a model because of my bone structure and I didn’t think I had the model look. I also had no experience as a model and had no idea where to start! I was lucky to meet quite a few amazing people, who introduced me to this industry, and also taught me and disclosed quite a few modelling secrets. It is challenging to be a size plus model as you always need to prove that being a big girl you are able to pull off the look, as good as the smaller size
“It is challenging to be a size plus model as you always need to prove that you are able to pull off the look as good as the smaller size models.” gave up, and after having a proposal to lose weight healthy in an alternative medicine centre, on one of the TV talk shows, I finally accepted it! I lost approximately 7stones in nine months...I then had more body confidence! It’s like an obsession, the more you try, the more negatives you see in yourself. Looking in the mirror, today you are who you are and you must be grateful! My body could not adapt to the such a quick and major weight loss, so my health was affected, which as a result, I still experience problems today. Genetically, I never was meant to be slim like my size 10 sister! So the weight slowly crept on, as I had so many challenges in my career and eating salad with
my positivity comes from! Just stand in front of the mirror in the morning and ask yourself if you are happy about what you see. And even if your appearance is not what you would like it to be, just remember, no changes can be made before you embrace and accept yourself for what you
see! I am sure you can find at least 3 beautiful things about yourself So take these positive, beautiful things with you, and remember them when you are walking down the sunny beach, with your fashionable swimwear, and smile whilst being proud of who you are!!
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REAL LIFE STORIES
BISHAMBER DAS Bishamber, 27, is runner up Miss India UK and a plus size rights activist, with an inspiring story about over-coming stereotypes, and life as a plus size woman in the South Asian community.
B
eing the First British Asian plus size model is a title I am extremely proud of. With this title has come lots of responsibility, which I strive to fulfil every day in everything I do. I am constantly working towards creating a stronger platform for plus size women, especially amongst South Asian communities. I graduated from the University of Derby in Law and
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Criminology, but decided I wanted to do more hands on work and entered the field of child protection. This journey has never been easy, as I have constantly hit barriers. Born in the United Kingdom to an Indian mother and a Malaysian father, and belonging to such rich cultures meant food was always the main focus in everyday life, exposing me to such wonderful cuisines. I
remember growing up as a healthy child where my mother would take great pride in making sure her children were getting the right nutrients. However, growing up was never easy. My father was an alcoholic; I regularly would witness and be a victim of domestic abuse against my mother and I. My father ran from most of his responsibilities, leaving my mother
“The idea of beauty is still seen through how light your skin tone is and how thin you are. I aim to create awareness and challenge perceptions in these communities.� to become the breadwinner in our family. My mother would work long hours to try and make ends meet, leaving me to fulfil a nurturing motherly role for my siblings. Dealing with this as a child was very difficult, as humans we always try and seek something to escape too in order to forget our ordeals. Some people turn to drugs or alcohol, but for me the safest option was to abuse my relationship with food. It was the 56 - www.bgpmagazine.co.uk
only thing I had control over in my life, the only thing I could turn to for comfort. As the years went on I carried on piling the pounds. People in my community would constantly criticise me, leaving me feeling more vulnerable. It was like an on-going cycle that I never saw being broken. The heaviest point in my life was 21 stone at 25 years old; I was watching my health deteriorate in front of my eyes and knew I had to take the right
steps to fix this. With the support of close friends I managed to sort my fitness out and lose a total of 5 and a half stone in just over a year. Of course, this was a massive achievement for me and helped me find the confidence I had lacked in. This whole journey taught me a valuable lesson which I wanted to share with every women, and what a better way to do this through a beauty pageant. I saw an advert for Miss India Europe
Photographer: GPS’ Photography and decided I was going to challenge the perceptions society held in regards to plus size women especially in the Asian community. I used myself as an example with full confidence. I was the only plus size women in the competition and used this fully to my advantage, as my full figure was something the other contestants did not have. Every woman is beautiful in her own way and I was not going to allow my size to hold me back.
After the tough auditions, I was crowned the second runner up for Miss India Europe UK, meaning I would represent the UK in Barcelona against 9 other European countries. Although I did not win the title, I certainly had been successful at creating a further platform for plus size women. In the western world plus size women are widely accepted. High street brands cater for our needs and there
is more positivity around the topic with a great market. Asian communities are still very much closed to the idea of acceptance of plus size women. The idea of beauty is still seen through how light your skin tone is and how thin you are. Through my title, I aimed to create awareness and challenge perceptions in these communities. This is however an on-going battle, work for plus size women is little to none.
Indian cinema is a forever growing market, I have been lucky to be spotted by different directors and film producers with offers for different roles; however there has always been a condition that I would lose a certain amount of weight before I am signed on. This shows how much work needs to be done in order to change these perceptions, and I work hard to do this. I have been lucky to succeed in any chosen field in my life where
I have become the first youngest British Asian magistrate in the country, I want other women to feel empowered to reach their goals and dreams. My belief is firm, women should be judged on their deeds and the good qualities they hold within, and not how they physically look. This is what made me so different to every other contestant in the competition, and this is something I proudly continue to live by in my every day life.
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REAL LIFE STORIES
CHIARA APREA Chiara, 23, is a plus size model and photographer, who creates stunning make overs for plus size women. Chiara tells BGP Magazine how she overcame her troubled childhood and became the woman she is today. I’ve always been overweight but was a very happy little girl. It wasn’t until the last year of primary school that I started feeling like I was different. Other girls that were once my friends would laugh at me in sports class. I was fat, but just as active as them. I started feeling very selfconscious at the name calling, ‘fatty boom boom’, ‘roly poly’ etc. I laugh at
these silly names now, but at the time they really hurt. I developed earlier than my peers, I had a large chest for my age and started menstruating early on, which made the bullying worse. By secondary school, I was dreading life and that attitude did me no favours, I was bullied badly from years 7 to 9. Girls would throw food at me and
in my hair. The boys would call me fat and ugly, this was a daily occurrence. My only escape was photography club with the other unsociable kids. I had one friend, a young man battling his own bullies for being gay. We stuck together and comforted eachother. When I complained about the bullying it got worse, so I just took it. I pretended to my
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family I was fine. It made my eating worse, not that I eat the wrong foods, it was just my habits. I have always been very physically active, and in year 8 I joined a Rugby team to channel my anger. It helped a lot, but the bullies were still there. Things changed in year 9, when a group of girls beat me very badly. I had my nose fractured and severe bruising to my stomach, all I remember them saying was “kick harder, she’s fat, she can’t feel it” - it was one of the lowest points in my life.
That’s when I had realised I had to do something. No one is going to stand up for me but me. I pretended I’d fell in gymnastics to my mum, and to the school I said I’d fallen off the climbing frame. Soon after the attack, we broke up for the summer holidays and I changed, I forced myself to stand up for myself, watching inspiring documentaries and films, and reading other people’s stories. I started taking care of myself. I got my hair done, I changed my image to show off my features, and
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Photography by Chiara Aprea
I started feeling better about myself. I didn’t want to be that girl who self-harms and suffers in silence. I went to a make-up counter and asked the store for help. I realised that what my baggy boys top and tracksuits were hiding me. I felt uncomfortable and I wanted to change. My mum
was thrilled and took me shopping, and soon I was wearing tight tops and jeans. I looked good, my chest was big and my waist small, and when boys started to look, that gave me the biggest confidence boost! Going back to school was a nightmare but with a new uniform, hair do
and confidence, I went in head high and when they tried to knock me down a firm two fingers went up in their face. I fought back, and to my complete surprise things changed, they respected me for standing up to them. My bullies became my friends, and as long as I was around I made
“I just wanted to give women back what I was given, the confidence to be the real you. Beautiful inside and out.”
Photography by Chiara Aprea
sure no one else suffered the way I did. I joined drama and became popular, I never thought I’d be popular. I went on to study my one true love in sixth form photography; I was made head prefect and mentor. I organised the school prom, photographed school events and had the biggest, most diverse circle of friends. After leaving school things changed, friends moved on and I felt a
little lost, I never went to University and I didn’t know what to do with my life, the years went by along with a stream of retail and office jobs. I was never happy and felt lost. Clubbing was awful, surrounded by skinny blondes and vile blokes leering at them and shouting abuse at me, I felt life was going backwards. In 2012, I watched a documentary about Miss Plus Size International and did some research, but it took me a whole
year to pluck up the courage to go along to a Big Girls Paradise nightclub I’d stopped going clubbing and this was a big deal, I didn’t know what to expect. September 2013 found me in St Paul’s at the Wine Tun, scared, selfconscious and nervous. As soon as I stepped in I was welcomed by a sea of warm smiles and gorgeous plus size women dressed in Corsets and Kitten ears! They made me feel so welcome, no one was
judging me, the men weren’t hurling abuse and instead they were chatting me up! I felt sexy and really good about myself. The next day I put an application in to be a Curvy Kitten and use my photography skills to shoot the night! Linda Koch accepted and I found myself Kittening almost every month thereafter. I’ve made so many friends and launched a new career for myself as a Plus Size Boudoir
Photographer, giving plus size women a sexy 1950’s makeover and photographing them looking and feeling their best. I just wanted to give women back what I was given, the confidence to be the real you. Beautiful inside and out. To this day I’ll make bullies my friends and literally squash the bad feeling out. I wouldn’t be where I am today without Big Girls Paradise and the amazing community it has.
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Betty Pamper’s
GUIDE TO THROWING THE
PERFECT
PICNIC WRITTEN BY PERELANDRA BEEDLES = PHOTOGRAPHY BY NICKY ROCKETS
I’m a huge fan of picnics. They are such a good excuse to sit with friends and family, have a natter and watch the world go by. Picnics have been enjoyed since the 1600’s and in that time little has changed. It’s still about the same three components, fresh air, yummy food and good company. Like most things in life a tiny amount of preparation can ensure you have a wonderful time, relaxed in the knowledge that everything has been taken care of. Here are my tips for stress free perfect picnics.
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Tip #1 Be a smart packer Pack plenty of plates, cups and cutlery. If it’s for a special occasion take china tea cups (so much more environmentally friendly and stylish than plastic deposable beakers) Drinking Pimms out of a pink china cup turns a simple al fresco lunch into something quite luxurious (do pack them well though or there will be tears before bedtime) napkins and a pack of wet wipes will also ensure a few spills don’t put a dampener on proceedings. My Nan used to bring a twist of salt in waxed paper to sprinkle over her hard boiled eggs but obviously that’s optional. Don’t forget a bin bag or two either.
Tip # 2 Theme your feast Knowing what food to pack for a picnic can be quite the challenge. I find choosing a theme not only simplifies the process but also adds a nice little dollop of kitsch into the proceeds. Whether its classic British (home made scotch eggs and 64- www.bgpmagazine.co.uk
cheese and pickle doorstops with union jack napkins) Italian (olives and parma ham with a fresh pasta and a cheeky bottle of red) or even Marie Antoinette (jewel coloured macaroons and dainty finger sandwiches) giving your picnic a motif will ensure all the food and drink compliments each other and adds a nice little bit of theatre when you put everything out. Choosing foods which won’t go soggy should also be a consideration. Unless you are simply nipping into the
garden items like quiches and cucumber sandwiches are best avoided.
Tip #3 Protect your derriere and your boat race It wouldn’t be a picnic without a rug but also take some scatter cushions and if you have room a parasol and stand. This will ensure you can lounge around like something out of Manet’s Le Dejeuner sur l’herbe (nakedness optional)
looking at the clouds and enjoying the simple pleasures. If you have a square of waterproof plastic that can be placed underneath so much the better. Damp ground can make lounging around for any amount of time uncomfortable and you want your picnic to stretch on like a lovely dream not an uncomfortable nightmare. Also don’t forget suntan lotion, mosquito spray and a jaunty hat. Sunstroke and midge bites are not the look you want to be sporting this season.
Tip #4 take some entertainment The word picnic first appeared in English in a letter written
by Lord Chesterfield who mentions card-playing, drinking and conversation and who are we to question history. A pack of cards and a few board games (Pugoply is our current fave) will happily fill the lull between eating and conversation. These are especially useful if you have any children on your picnic as telling them to play sleeping lions for two hours on a trot might wear thin.
Tip #5 Light the way If your picnic is going to go through to early evening take some storm lanterns along or even just some jam jars with tea lights in. Your sunny hideaway will turn into
a magical fairy garden in an instant. It’s amazing how the mood changes once the sun goes down. If you are able to light a campfire and toast marshmallows all the better. And one last thing! Some gorgeous plussie can be self conscious about eating in public. Never let narrow minded, ill educated fools stop you from having a good time. Dab your mouth with a dainty napkin and take pride in enjoying every crumb of your al fresco feast!
Betty Pamper’s Daily Plus size Blog can be found at www.pamperandcurves. blogspot.com www.bgpmagazine.co.uk - 65
Tiger Stores Rice Paper Lantern GBP 2.00
Sainsbury’s Home Memory Lane Picnic, prices from GBP 1.50
Some pretties to help get your picnic started BGP Magazine has scoured the internet to find the best picnic items to ensure your picnic is the best around.
Home Candy Perfect Pixel Parasol GBP 49.50
Home Candy Krystal Pitcher GBP 12.50
HomeSense Picnic basket GBP 19.99
Home Candy Anorak Kissing Squirrels Picnic Blanket GBP 35.00 66 - www.bgpmagazine.co.uk
BGP Magazine Meets Winner of Curvy Princess -
CAMEO
M
y name is Cameo, I am originally from southern California, and now reside in Phoenix, Arizona, USA. I’m 31 and a proud stay at home mum to two beautiful little girls, Sadie, 3, and Sallie, 1. I am lucky to be married to my best friend, Robert, and we have been together for 5 years! I am all about fashion, I love rock n roll - Blink 182 is my favorite band. I love purses and fashionable dresses, and anything cute that shows off my very curvy body! I’m fun, easy going and love being a mom. I love tattoos and piercings, I also love to paint, and often do crafts with my baby girls. My family and friends mean the world to me, and when I’m not with them I’m modeling for a local store here in Arizona! The store is called www.bigplusfashions.com.
GET THE
LOOK
Wanting to rock the latest trends this Summer but don’t know where to begin? Here is a simple guide to making the trend work for you, and how to get started! www.bgpmagazine.co.uk - 71
From left-right: Stripe Vest, from Evans, Navy & White Stripe Pocket Tunic, WAS £25.00, NOW £15.00, both from Evans, Curve Day Bag from Lipsy, £48, Cami vest top from ASOS Curve, Stripe Mac Coat from ASOS Curve, Stripe Blouse from Evans, Womens Black Glamour Puss Cats Eye Sunglasses, £15.00 from Sunglass Junkie
STRIKING STRIPES
Stripes have a way of making any outfit look just that little bit cooler, with minimal effort or fuss. A good striped top will go with just about anything - and stripes are rarely out of fashion. If you are worried about stripes making you look ‘wider’. fear not. Stripes can accentuate your figure, and used correctly, can give you a stunning silohuette. We love the classic navy and white for a casual affair, or black and white for a dressier look.
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Flower statement necklace, George at Asda, £12.00
FLORAL DELIGHTS
Koko By Koko Skater Dress for Evans, £25 was £45
Nothing makes an outfit look cuter than a pretty, floral print. Florals are perfect for a breezy summer’s day, but also have the ability to transform from day-to-night with a simple change of accessories. When wearing florals, try to keep your patterns to a one off - and use accessories to brighten them up or tone them down. Team them with a good leather satchel or pair of brogues for a bang on trend look.
Cami dress from ASOS Curve Floral dress from Simply Be
Floral shorts from George at ASDA
Lace up brogues from Curvissa, £55
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BOLD & BRIGHT
Prints aren’t for everyone, and if they aren’t for you, colour blocking is a great way to add a splash of colour to your wardrobe. Loud and proud colour combinations make for a dynamic, confident look. Match different hues and tones to create unusual outfits, but try not to go overboard. If you are brave, experiment with some bold eye make up and a bright lip.
From Left-Right: Green Tunic dress from Simply Be, Yellow and black skate dress from ASOS Curve, Hot Pink Dress from Curvissa, £45, Bubblegum pink drop hem dress from Simply Be, £45, Coral and Navy clutch bag from Primark, Colbalt Blue Suede Heels, £35 Yellow and silver beaded necklace, Daisy & Eve at Evans, £16.50
Snakeskin trousers, Curvissa, £49, Tropical Print trousers from SImply Be, £28, Leopard Print Heels from Curvissa, £55
Hare necklace, Let it Reign, £20, Leopard print jacket, Simply Be, Cat Crop Top, ASOS Curve, Black snake skin Clutch, Accessorize, £19
ANIMAL INSTINCTS
Animal print is a trend that seems to never go out of fashion, and works for every age group. It also transcends seasons, making these summer purchases likely to last well in to autumn and winter! Keep it neutral and sophisticated with a snake or crocodile print item, or go for something more daring such as leopard print or bright jungle colours. If your wardrobe is a little more reserved, try a classy black clutch bag or cute necklace.
Pattern dress, Denim Cami dress and Vandal tee, all from ASOS Curve
Vest, £35. Denim Shorts, £24, both from Simply Be Head garland from Miss Selfridge
Umbrella by H for Henry Holland at Debenhams
FESTIVAL FROLICS
Festival season is amongst us! With some of the best bands from around the world playing across the UK, and glamping very much the ‘in thing’, festival goers are spoilt for choice when it comes to finding something cool and practical to wear. Essentials, such as wellies (see opposite page!), are available in every size, and flower garlands and backpacks are in a humble commoditity. Go for something bright and cheerful to stand out from the crowd!
Rucksack from Accessorize, £37, Ankle Boots from Evans Model outfit from Fashionworld
WIN! A PAIR OF
WIDE
CALF WELLIES
Two pairs of fabulous Jileon boots to be won.
H
STEP-BY-STEP MEASURING GUIDE
ave you always struggled to find wellies that fit you and missed out on all that puddle splashing? Well, look no further, as we are the wide calf welly people! Our Jileon wellies come in a range of calf sizes and will fit calves of up to 53cm. They are also superbly comfy, brilliantly water tight and come in a range of fab designs. Our extra wide range are made with a double gusset with buckle fasteners meaning you can secure them at the correct calf size for you so they are both practical and stylish. We’re confident you’ll find a pair of boots that you’ll love so follow our guide to measuring your calves.
STEP 1: Find the widest part of your calf usually a few cm below the back of your knee - and measure the circumference using a flexible tape measure. STEP 2: Repeat on the other leg (you never know!) STEP 3: Use the largest of these measurements as your calf size - don’t forget to measure with trousers or welly socks on if you want to be able to tuck trousers in to your new boots... STEP 4: If you are under 5’3” then add another 2 cm to the measurement to account for the fact that your calf will be lower down in the welly! STEP 5: Order your Jileon Wellies over at www.jileon.co.uk using code BGP10 (for 10% off) and puddle splash forever more.
HOW TO ENTER:
To win a pair of Jileon’s wide calf wellies, all you have to do is head over and Like our BGP Magazine facebook page, and share our competition post! It’s that simple! You can find us at www.facebook.com/BGPMagazine. Terms and conditions apply. For more information, visit www.bgpmagazine.co.uk. www.bgpmagazine.co.uk - 77
Debenhams J enny Packham Necklace GBP 45.00
Diva at Miss Selfridge Statement Necklace GBP 25.00
George at ASDA Metal flower necklace GBP 12.00
Make a Statement
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What’s About Town? Necklace Ribbon GBP 24.95
Mint Velvetstone Statement Necklace GBP 39.00
WALLIS: Black bead statement necklaceGBP 15.00
BGP Magazine loves a good accessory, and there are certain times when an accessory doesn’t just complete your outfit, it makes it - and with these statement necklaces that is definitely the case! With something for every budget, we’ve put together a selection of necklaces designed to wow.
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Daisy and Eve at Evans Necklace GBP 15.00
Very 3D Jewel necklace GBP 22.00
George at ASDA Carnival Statement Necklace GBP 18.00
What’s About Town? Statemtent Necklace GBP 29.95
What’s About Town? Chain GBP 17.95
Missguided Kavaja Multi Flower Necklace GBP 9.99
M&Co;. Statement floral necklace GBP 18.00
George at ASDA Nude statement necklace GBP 15.00
Dorothy Perkins Sparkle Flower Necklace GBP 16.50
HOW TO: CONTOUR & HI Step 1
Use a good quality moisturiser or primer and apply your normal base foundation.
Step 3
Apply a light concealer with a slight shimmer to the features of your face that naturally catch the sun.
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Step 2
Apply a foundation two shades darker than your skin tone to your facial shadows.
Step 4
Use a blusher to highlight the apples of your cheeks. Blend together using a blending brush or sponge.
IGHLIGHT Cheat Sheet Fakeup Hydrating Crease-control Concealer by Benefit, £18.50
Little Round Pot Cream blush from Bourjois Paris, £7.99
Bare Minerals Starter Kit available from Debenhams, £49.50
Lustre Drops, £18..00 from MAC Cosmetics
Top Tip
An important thing to remember when contouring and highlighting is to find your light - where does the light naturally fall on your face? Every face is different but in general, highlight your T zone, contour your shadows and don’t forget to blend!
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recipe feature
AFTERNOON TEA with a twist CREATED BY EMILY GALVIN AND ANNALEIGH KOCH
S
o, it’s a beautiful, sunny day, and you’re having some friends over for a light lunch and a casual catch up. Afternoon tea sounds perfect, right? Except clotted cream is a little bit heavy in this weather... and well, it’s a bit hot to be drinking hot drinks, and you don’t really have a million hours to spend baking cupcakes in an already-baking kitchen... what is a girl to do? We have the perfect solution. Freshly baked mediterrean scones, a cooler than cool ice cream sundae, and cocktails that will leave you and your guests feeling refreshed. Now. that sounds perfect. BGP Magazine has created a fresh modern take on the timelessly traditional afternoon tea, and best of all, it’s affordable, easy to make and tastes incredible. Enjoy!
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These scones are an amazing way to create a filling snack that is easy on the wallet and takes less than 20 minutes to make!
Sun-dried Tomato, onion and Cheese Sconesii Makes 6-8 Scones ------------------------225g/8oz self raising flour A pinch of salt 55g/2oz butter 25g/1oz mature cheddar cheese, grated 150ml/5fl oz milk 1 Small red onion, finely diced 75g Sun-dried tomatoes 1 tsp Oregano 1 tsp Mixed herbs 1 tbsp Olive oil 1 tbsp of Milk, for glazing
STEP 1
Heat the oven to 220C/Gas 7. Lightly grease a baking sheet or non-stick tray. We find lightly dusting with flour works best.
STEP 2
Oil a small frying pan and gently fry the onions and sundried tomatoes over a low heat until caramelised. Feel free to keep some of the oil to pour into the dough mixture, for extra taste!
STEP 3
Seive the flour and salt together into a large mixing bowl. Slowly rub in the butter until they reach a breadcrumb like texture.
STEP 4
Add the grated cheese, onions, tomatoes, herbs, and then the milk to get a soft 84 - www.bgpmagazine.co.uk
dough. Adding the milk in small doses helps create a more even mixture. If you wish to add any other ingredients, now is the perfect time.
STEP 5
Knead the dough very lightly on a floured surface. Pat out into a large circle around 2in deep, and use a large knife to create 4 deep grooves to create 8 segments.
STEP 6
Brush the tops of the scones with a little milk, or eggwash if you prefer a shinier look! We also added a sprinkle of extra cheese. Bake for 12-15 minutes until well risen and golden. Cool on a wire rack. Finished! You can break the sections into wedges or serve as a whole - we recommend serving with butter and a roasted pepper chutney.
{
}
Why not try... If you want to extend the taste of the meditterean these delicious scones, why not try adding feta, olives, roasted peppers or crispy pancetta? Or go back to British with some blue cheese and caramelised onion chutney. The possibilites are endless!
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cocktails
The Perfect Pimms James Pimm, a shellfish monger from Kent who opened his famous Pimm’s Oyster Bar in London in 1823. Using gin, quinine and his own secret mixture of herbs, Pimm created a drink that he served as an aid to digestion, however it’s now turned into one of the most popular cocktails in the UK. You’ll need 3 parts lemonade to one part Pimm’s, 1 slice orange, 1 slice lemon, 2 slices cucumber, 1 sliced strawberry, sprig of mint. Pour Pimm’s into a glass half filled with ice. Add fruit and fill the glass with more ice. Top with lemonade, lightly stir and serve. For an alternative to lemonade,try ginger ale.
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cocktails
Strawberry Daiquiri Alongside the Cuba Libre and the Mojito, the Daiquiri is one of the three great Cuban cocktails, and by adding strawberries it gains texture and taste. The fresh fruity flavour, and combination of berries and lime makes it perfect for a summer’s afternoon! Place the 4 strawberries, 2tbs of sugar, 35ml rum, 1 tbsp strawberry liqueur and 25ml of lime juice into the base of a cocktail shaker and mash (muddle) with the end of a clean rolling pin. Shake in a cocktail shaker or add ice and blend for a refreshing cool twist, and serve in a delicate cocktail glass with a slice of strawberry and fresh lime. Not only does it taste great, it looks pretty too!
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top 30 amazing toppings Strawberries Raspberries Blueberries Glacier Cherries Peache Slices Candied lemon peel Sugar Strand Sprinkles Chopped Hazelnuts Walnut Pieces Candied Pecans Macadamia Nuts Coconut Salted Caramel
ice cream sundaesii N
othing is quite as perfect as a cold, creamy ice cream on a hot, summer’s day. The best thing about a good ice cream sundae is that anything goes. You can raid the freezer, the cupboards and even the fridge and throw together a spectacular treat in minutes! We decided to make a good old fashioned Banana Split - a combination of vanilla ice cream, slices of fresh banana, a deliciously naughty chocolate sauce, topped with sprinkles, raspberry sauce and a cherry. Amazing!
HOW TO MAKE A CHOCOLATE SAUCE There are plenty of recipes to make a very simple chocolate sauce, but we love just melting single cream, dark chocolate and a dash of icing sugar in a pan. Not sure on quantities? Try and keep it 30% chocolate, 60% cream and
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10% sugar, and you can’t go wrong. If it looks a little weird, remove from the heat and keep on stirring! Looks a little thin? Add some grated chocolate. Looks too thick? Add a splash of milk - and keep stirring. Once the sauce tastes amazing, leave it to cool for 10 minutes before pouring over your sundae and enjoying the chocolately goodness.
Buttery Toffee Popcorn Honeycomb Chocolate chips Grated White chocolate Crumbled cookie Mini Marshmallows Toffee Sauce Butterscotch Sauce Crushed shortbread Smarties Malteasers Peanut brittle Warm Nutella Honey Greek Yogurt Maple Syrup Coffee Beans
REAL LIFE STORIES This year, the British Plus Size Awards will be working alongside the charity CRY - Cardiacy Risk in the Young. CRY raises awareness of SADS Sudden Adult Death Syndrome in local communities, provides medical information, offers support to young people diagnosed with potentially life-threatening cardiac conditions and offers bereavement support to families affected. BGP Magazine hears a moving personal story from Teresa, and why awareness of SADS and CRY is so important.
“I lost my daughter to SADS, but now I help save lives.” WRITTEN BY TERESA TENWICK-FORD
S
arah was born on 28th April 1989 at The William Harvey Hospital in Kent, she weighed 7lbs exactly, and she was beautiful. Sarah, was followed by her sister Emma in 1991, and brother Jamie in 1993. My family was complete. She was an intelligent, happy ray of sunshine, who loved to learn and excelled at school everything she did was done with her heart and her soul. Sarah, Emma, Jamie and I moved to Lincoln in May 2000, by this time Sarah was 11 and ready to start senior school. She went to William Harvey Senior school, and attained good grades, and decided
she wanted to be a quantity surveyor; she talked herself into an apprenticeship with her determination and approach, and finally graduated in construction, at Lincoln Cathedral in October 2010. Due to the recession she was made redundant and employment was hard to find so she ended up working for ASDA Newark, with her sunny disposition and caring, and funny nature, she made many friends. Sarah didn’t drink very often, but she loved to party, she loved nothing better to sing at Karaoke, she would belt out Queen, Meatloaf and many more, in tune, she was an amazing singer, and would www.bgpmagazine.co.uk - 89
REAL LIFE STORIES
really get in the spirit of things, she had a fantastic sense of humour, huge hugs, and a smile that would light up the world, she was loved by all. Tuesday 7th February, Sarah was so excited, she was going for dinner with her boyfriend, a fantastic young man that she had carried a torch for, for 4 years, finally they were together and she was embraced by his family, they went out for a family meal, and Sarah was buzzing, she was in Love with a capital “L” Wednesday 08th February, was to rock my world, Sarah was coming to an appointment with me, I went in to wake her, and immediately knew something was wrong, I called her name, she didn’t answer, I went to hug her, she looked asleep, she was laying on her front which was usual for her, she looked peaceful, her arm was hanging from the right hand side of the bed, and her arm was stone cold, her nails 90 - www.bgpmagazine.co.uk
were blue, her face was white, but she was so cold, apart from a warm patch on the centre of her back. I hoped I was wrong, but in
“Healthy young people don’t go to bed and die, it was surreal and unbelievable a nightmare.” my heart of hearts, I knew she was dead, I was devastated, I was in shock, but I still had to tell Emma and Jamie, it was surreal and unbelievable, a nightmare, I couldn’t believe it, healthy young people do
not go to bed and die. But the truth is Sarah did. My beautiful young angel had died, why? How? Why was it not me? Why her? She had her whole life ahead of her. , there was no reason for her to have died, the coroner’s report said she had Cardio Respiratory Failure, which means her heart stopped and slight fatty liver disease, that doesn’t kill you Her funeral was held on 22 February, we decided to call it a fun-eral, Sarah Style, we could have nothing morbid, she was too young. She left the church to “don’t stop me now, I’m having a good time, I’m having a party” Queen, her tribute song, the church was packed and overflowing, Sarah had influenced so many lives. We followed this by having a karaoke, that’s what she would
REAL LIFE STORIES
Above: Teresa’s children and Sarah’s siblings, Jamie and Emma.
have wanted. After the shock had worn off, I wanted answers, I needed to know what had caused this, nobody could tell me anything, but through research I came across CRY “Cardiac Risk in the Young” finally I would start to get my answers. When a young person dies suddenly, of no know cause, when their heart just stops, it could be a genetic defect at birth. It has no signs, shows no symptoms, and happens in a flash. The true bloodline will need to be tested. The way to detect this is by screening, screening consists of a simple ecg, and echocardiogram, this will detect some cases, but sometimes a treadmill test and ajmaline test is required, this could pick up if a person carries the brugada syndrome gene or long QT. In November last year, my son Jamie TenwickFord, complained of flu like symptoms and was admitted into Lincoln County Hospital, he had an abnormal ecg reading and endured an angiogram, he has been diagnosed with Myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart,
and is waiting for referral to St Georges. My immediate reaction, was oh no, no again, not another Screening is available at ST Georges, Tooting in London, also fundraisers like us, campaign to get screenings mandatory for young people between the ages of 14-35. Questions, and enquiries can be answered by contacting CRY, their specialised Cardiologists are amazing, Professor S Sharma, and Dr Rajay Narain have supported our journey. CRY, is a non profit making, UK based charity with many celebrities as patrons, Sir Ian Botham is the honorary Patron, as are Pixie Lott, David Walliams and many more, The charity first began in 1995. CRY was the first organisation to draw attention to the range of conditions that can cause young sudden cardiac death (YSCD)
What you can do to help If Teresa’s story has inspired you to help raise awareness of this charity, there are many ways in which you can get involved. Raising awareness of CRY and its objectives can be as easy as a click of a button, printing or ordering posters to display, liking or sharing a post on our social media pages and sharing Youtube videos CRY have produced all helps to raise awareness and save young lives. Raising awareness of the signs and symptoms of cardiac conditions saves young lives.
You can find them at www.c-r-y.org.uk My twitter pages are @suddenadultdeat and @beating_hearts1 www.bgpmagazine.co.uk - 91
For the love of
Bees...
N
o other insect has served the needs of man like the honey bee. For centuries, beekeepers have raised honey bees, harvesting the sweet honey they produce and relying on them to pollinate crops. Honey bees pollinate an estimated onethird of all the food crops we consume. Here are 10 facts about honey bees you might not know. 1. Honey bees can fly at speeds of up to 15 miles per hour. That might seem fast, but in the bug world, it’s actually rather slow. Honey bees are built for short trips from flower to flower, not for long distance travel. Their tiny wings must flap about 12,000 times per minute just to keep their pollen-laden bodies aloft for the flight home.
2. A honey bee colony can contain up to 60,000 bees at its peak. It takes a lot of bees to get all the work done. Nurse bees care for the young, while the queen’s attendant workers bathe and feed her. Guard bees stand watch at the door. Construction workers build the beeswax foundation in which the queen lays eggs and the workers store honey. Undertakers carry the dead from the hive. Foragers must bring back enough pollen and nectar to feed the entire community. 92 - www.bgpmagazine.co.uk
3. A single honey bee worker produces about 1/12th of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime. For honey bees, there’s power in numbers. From spring to fall, the worker bees must produce about 60 lbs. of honey to sustain the entire colony during the winter. It takes tens of thousands of workers to get the job done.
7. Drones, the only male honey bees, die immediately after mating. Male honey bees serve only one purpose: they provide sperm to the queen. About a week after emerging from their cells, the drones are ready to mate. Once they’ve fulfilled that purpose, they die.
4. A queen honey bee stores a lifetime supply of sperm.
8. Honey bees maintain a constant temperature of about 93º F within the hive year-round.
The queen bee can live 3-4 years, but her biological clock ticks a lot faster than you might think. Just a week after emerging from her queen cell, the new queen flies from the hive to mate. If she doesn’t do so within 20 days, it’s too late; she loses her ability to mate. If successful, however, she never needs to mate again. She holds the sperm in her spermatheca and uses it to fertilize eggs throughout her life.
As temperatures fall, the bees form a tight group within their hive to stay warm. Honey bee workers cluster around the queen, insulating her from the outside cold. In summer, the workers fan the air within the hive with their wings, keeping the queen and brood from overheating. You can hear the hum of all those wings beating inside the hive from several feet away.
5. The queen honey bee lays up to 1,500 eggs per day, and may lay up to 1 million in her lifetime.
9. Honey bees produce beeswax from special glands on their abdomens.
Just 48 hours after mating, the queen begins her lifelong task of laying eggs. So prolific an egg layer is she, she can produce her own body weight in eggs in a single day. In fact, she has no time for any other chores, so attendant workers take care of all her grooming and feeding.
The youngest worker bees make the beeswax, from which workers construct the honeycomb. Eight paired glands on the underside of the abdomen produce wax droplets, which harden into flakes when exposed to air. The workers must work the wax flakes in their mouths to soften them into a workable construction material.
6. The honey bee uses the most complex symbolic language of any animal on earth, outside of the primate family. Honey bees pack a million neurons into a brain that measures a mere cubic millimeter, and they use every one of them. Worker bees must perform different roles throughout their lives. Foragers must find flowers, determine their value as a food source, head back home, and share detailed information about their finds with other foragers. Karl von Frisch won the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1973 for cracking the language code of honey bees – the waggle dance.
10. An industrious worker bee may visit 2,000 flowers per day. She can’t carry pollen from that many flowers at once, so she’ll visit 50-100 flowers before heading home. All day long, she repeats these round trip flights to forage, which puts a lot of wear and tear on her body. A hardworking forager may live just 3 week, but what a busy 3 weeks they are! Hence the popular term, busy as a bee. www.bgpmagazine.co.uk - 93